The Train Daddy is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! The heat is on for the Tennessee Titans and this never-ending summer! Will someone slap Mother Nature and tell her to chill out? It’s time for autumn, not this perpetual summer.

Maybe that silly little climate change girl Greta and all those climate folks are on to something. Maybe mankind has messed things up so badly that Mother Nature is pissed. Ms. Nature has decided that mankind will suffer, and she is holding back on autumn’s typical cool temperatures and beautiful colors. Or maybe this is just weather. I have no clue; I am neutral in this fight. I say plant a tree, chill out with the plastic, don’t litter, and hug your mama. That’s my answer to climate change—not hysteria!

Want to talk about hysteria? No, I don’t mean ranting and raving about how the polar bears are going to melt into extinction and how the ocean is less than a lifetime away from swallowing us. I mean real Tennessee problems! Lord knows I care more about my Titans than I do the icecaps.

Let me start by saying Bernard Pollard, the former Titan safety, can suck a squirrel nut. Quit trying to be relevant by bashing the Titans and the team’s owner, encouraging her to sell the team and tweeting that the Titans need a “New coach. New GM. The fans deserve better.” Pollard was a walking 15-yard penalty when he played for Tennessee. This city didn’t have love for him then or even now, as he still resides in Nashville. Pollard made a big deal and twisted Delanie Walker’s words; Walker later clarified Pollard was wrong. Pollard likes to hit low when his opponent is down. As I said, he is a walking penalty and a crappy human being.

In my last article I gave my thoughts on the Titans’ strengths and weaknesses before the season kicked off, and I wasn’t even close! By no means am I a delusional fan. When this team sucks, I will say so, and when they are hot, I will praise! I will be a fan for as long as this team resides in Tennessee, God willing, until I am an old, decrepit man.

But understand this, I am a fan! It doesn’t matter if I think Marcus Mariota has no awareness in the pocket and throws far too many ill-conceived passes, and it doesn’t matter if I think Coach Vrabel possibly doesn’t have what it takes to properly run this team. The fact remains: I will always be here, and those two men won’t.

Before I get into a rant about the Titans, let’s discuss a few other stories.

First, Antonio Brown. What a hell of a story. We have an idiot as well as an alleged sexual assaulter, it appears. Here is a quick timeline of Brown’s 2019. This past March, Brown is traded to the Raiders by the Steelers. In May all seems well, and coaches seem happy. Come July, Brown shows up to training camp with severe frostbite on his feet. He later leaves camp in protest due to the NFL banning his outdated 10-year-old helmet. Later in August, Brown is fined 40k for his unexcused absence in camp and told he needs to be “all-in or all-out.” Come September, Brown gets into a confrontation with Raiders general manager Mike Mayock and calls him a cracker.

Later that month the Raiders suspend Brown for his conduct, then Brown issues an emotional apology. After another fine from the Raiders, Brown demands to be released and he gets his wish. On Sept. 9, Tom Brady knocks on the door and Brown answers, becoming a Patriot. The next day, Brown is accused of sexual assault. Five days later Brown plays his first and only game as a Patriot, and scores a touchdown. The next day out comes another allegation of assault. Nike drops Brown. The Patriots release Brown five days after his first game.

Brown states he will never play in the NFL again. He enrolls in online college courses. And then days later says he wants to play again.

Okay, that was all probably a pure waste of my words, but when you read it you can’t help but say “wow”!

Another quick topic before we talk Titans: J.Lo and Shakira will headline this year’s Super Bowl halftime performance. The Latin-inspired theme plays well with Miami’s Hispanic landscape. Yet it’s not the show many fans wanted, especially with Jay Z serving as the NFL’s “live music entertainment strategist.” It seems many African-American fans preferred some rapper or socially charged activist to perform. And it appears that Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider isn’t happy either, stating, “Once again the great heavy music that rocks the stadiums week after week, game after game, is completely ignored. I guess we don’t shake our ass enough.” Personally, I am not even a tad bit excited for this halftime show. It’s booty-shaking sexual pop nonsense that has no intrigue for me except the ass shaking. Shakira is a beautiful woman (and is managed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation), but aside from that I would prefer anything else.

Here is my Top 3 wish list for Super Bowl halftime performances: Will Smith and Kodi Lee from America’s Got Talent getting jiggy with it, Garth Brooks solo, or a Post Malone and Elton John collaboration show! Every one of those shows would destroy this stupid 2020 show.

Alright, let’s wrap this article up with some Titan talk! The Titans play the Bills, at Denver, the Chargers and the Bucs before the next article comes out. If I am being honest, they should be able to defeat the Broncos and Bucs, and possibly give the Bills a good show. The Chargers offense is on fire, so . . .

I wrote most of this before heading down to see the Titans play the Falcons. You can understand the mood I was in after the loss to the Colts and the beatdown to the Jaguars.

After a solid week 1 beatdown of the doo-doo Browns I thought things were looking up for the Titans. The defense looked top-notch, Marcus looked decent, and I assumed the offense would begin to click. Then Adam Vinatieri attempted to give the Titans a free win, missing two extra points for the Colts. Yet the Titans lost that game 19–17.

Week 3 against the Jags was one of the worst games I can remember ever watching. Let’s just forget that. Nothing else needs to be said. It was annihilation, and was hopefully a big wake-up call to Mariota and coaches.

I am starting to have serious doubts about Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The former tight end coach is calling plays for the first time in his career. To be honest he wasn’t promoted because he was the best man, he was promoted because he was familiar with the organization. This offense has problems executing and is very predictable. By most accounts Smith is respected, so I hope he figures this new role out soon.

My breakdown of this team so far: the play calling has been awful and that falls on Head Coach Vrabel and Arthur Smith. It must be fixed. The offensive line has been horrible. Mariota has no time to look downfield. Taylor Lewan will return in week 5. Let’s just hope one man has what it takes to fix that line. Nothing else on this team matters if that problem doesn’t get fixed. A bad offensive line equals a guaranteed bad season and many firings.

The pass rush has been nonexistent, aside from Cameron Wake in week 1. Harold Landry needs to step up, and Jurrell Casey hasn’t looked like himself since returning after an injury. The secondary looks great, though. If this team managed to generate a consistent pass rush, this defense would be a great group.

As far as I am concerned, don’t let Adoree Jackson ever return a punt again!

Marcus Mariota is one of this franchise’s most controversial players ever. Bring up his name among Titans fans and you may have an immediate fight. The former Heisman winner better get it together, because if the Titans put Ryan Tannehill in the game it’s going to be the end to the Mariota saga. We can blame the offensive line, or five offensive coordinators in five years or injury or weather or whatever, but Marcus must win. Fans demand it after this long.

And win he did in Atlanta. I’m adding in this Falcon update less than an hour after the game. Respect to all the Titans fans who showed up to Atlanta. I’ve never, ever, seen so much Titans blue at an away game. Hats off to Marcus Mariota and A.J. Brown. Great game to Corey Davis as well.

What a great game, aside from Coach Vrabel not opting for a late field goal that would have put the Titans up three scores. Stupid move! But why complain on such a wonderful Titan day.

I won’t get into stats when both the offense and defense played so well as a team. I just want to end this article saying I am proud of what this team and its fans did in Atlanta. Shout-out to Scott, John, Justin, Jeff and Glenn, all my brothers in that picture posted at the top. With Marcus making better decisions and receivers catching balls this team can make a mark.

Let’s get Henry running. Let’s get the football in Adam Humphries’ hands. Let’s make Delanie Walker a star again and keep throwing the ball towards A.J. Brown. This team needs a real #1 if Corey Davis can’t step up. If the offensive line can give Marcus or maybe Ryan an extra split second, then we have something! This defense will improve.

I can’t stress it enough—if the O-line can just improve and the D-line can get a little pressure, this team will win games. Hurry up, Marcus, because Ryan has a cannon and you’re losing my faith.

The defense looked top-notch to close out September. Let’s continue to grow as an organization and team. All you real Titans fans out there, bless you. Also, a shout-out to Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s air conditioning; cough-cough, Nissan stadium!

The Train’s rolling into the station. Choo-choo!